Deception Complex Fire Information Update
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeceptionORFire
Tuesday,
September 2, 2014
Fire
|
Acres
|
% Contained
|
Total Personnel
|
|
Deception Complex
|
2278
|
55%
|
961
|
News & Highlights for the Deception
Complex
●
A community meeting to provide a fire update
is scheduled at Greenwaters Park in Oakridge at 7:00 p.m. tonight.
●
Local communities and surrounding areas
can expect to see an increase in smoke as the firefighters respond to more
active fire behavior by implementing planned burnout operations. This strategy
will strengthen containment lines for the Deception Fire while keeping
firefighter and public safety a top priority, and reduce the likelihood of a
more devastating stand-replacement fire.
●
Information from smoke monitors in the
Oakridge area is incorporated in the daily Deception Complex smoke forecast
which is posted on the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency website at www.lrapa.org
or www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.
●
Motorists traveling Highway 58 are advised
to proceed with caution near the community of Oakridge as students and teachers
return to school today amidst continuing heavy fire-related traffic.
●
Deception Creek Mobile Home Park, Middle
Fork Ranger Station and houses along La Duke Road remain under a Level 1
evacuation notice.
●
Trail 3607 -- Larison Rock Trail -- is now
open to the public.
Deception
Complex Smoke Monitoring Discussion
On August 26th, the fire
burned 800 acres. Starting on August 27th and continuing through August 30th,
particulate matter as measured by the smoke monitor stationed in Oakridge
spiked in the morning between 10 am and 1 pm every day. As fire activity
increases due to burnout and drying conditions, we can expect a similar pattern
of smoke intrusions into the Oakridge and Westfir communities, to the northwest
down the HWY 58 corridor, and possibly deeper into the WIllamette Valley.
For Tuesday and Wednesday,
however, winds from the north should push the majority of smoke to the south,
away from Oakridge/Westfir area.
Deception
Complex Operations Summary:
Incident Commander Ross
Holloway stated at this morning’s firefighter briefing, “Today we’re on the
cusp of a big change in fire activity and behavior.” A dry cold front is
anticipated this afternoon, possibly bringing winds of up to 20 mph, but also
continuing the cooler temperatures for two more days. By Thursday, a warming
and drying trend will begin, including dry easterly flow. Today and tomorrow,
crews will be preparing for Thursday’s anticipated increase in fire behavior by
taking advantage of the cooler weather to
begin burning out some of
the fuel near the edges of the fire as weather and fuel conditions are
favorable. Burnout operations will also be contingent on fire activity. On the
northwest and west side of the fire today, burnouts may occur along the 549
road. A test burn along the eastern edge of the fire below the 5850 road may
also be ignited. Lines are being bolstered on the N/NE flank as crews continue
to mop up the direct hand
line and dozer line on the
eastern side of the ridge-top above La Duke Road. Engines and heavy equipment
will work along Forest Roads 5847 and 5850
to improve the fire break and further establish a contingency line.
On the Staley Fire, firefighters are finishing rehabilitation, monitoring
fire activity, and continuing to operate the sprinkler system as the fire backs
toward the line.
On the Pool Fire, the fire is being patrolled aerially, and responsibility
for the fire will soon be returned to the Middle Fork Ranger District.
On the Davey Fire crews are preparing the fire for return to the Middle
Fork District for patrolling.
Air Operations Summary
Currently, five heavy
helicopters, a medium heli-torch helicopter, three light helicopters and an air
attack platform are assigned to the Deception Complex.
●
A temporary flight
restriction (TFR) is in place over the Deception Fires 272, 274 and 278; a
military training Route (R346) has been closed due to the TFR.
● Oakridge Airport is closed to civilian air
traffic; currently serving as the helibase for the Deception Complex.
Willamette National Forest Area &
Trail Closures:
●
There
are two closures on the Willamette NF association with the Deception Complex
and the Staley Fire. The Deception Complex closure is an area, road and trail
closure that currently includes the Lawler and Deception Trails and the
Patterson Mountain Road; the Staley Fire closure includes an area and road
closure.
Umpqua National Forest Closure:
●
There
is an area, road and trail closure SW of the Deception Complex. Forest Road 17
remains open to Spirit Falls.
Check
Inciweb for full closure information, including maps: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4093/ or visit the Willamette National Forest
at http://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette or the Umpqua National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.
Deception Complex: Started: August 12, 2014 Cause: Lightning Location:
Two miles west of Oakridge, Oregon.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Driving hazards in town with school
starting today and on the forest roads with heavy traffic on narrow roads;
wildlife in the area, smoke and poor visibility, depending on fire and burnout
activity.
RESOURCE CONCERNS: Threatened and endangered species,
including northern spotted owls and bull trout; timber resources, impacts to
recreation opportunities, threatened communities of Oakridge and Westfir,
municipal watershed of Westfir, Deception Creek watershed above the mobile home
park.
WEATHER: A dry cold front will move south across
the area this evening, with the main impact being gusty northwest winds through
late tonight. Wednesday will remain cool under northerly flow aloft on
Wednesday, but the incoming air mass will be significantly drier than recent
days. A strong surface low will develop west of the Cascades late Wednesday
causing warm, dry and unstable conditions and gusty east/northesast winds
Thursday and Friday.
TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: There was good drying of the fuels on
Monday. Fire behavior will start picking up as the fuels in the drainages
continue to dry and pre-heat.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Willamette National Forest, Oregon
Department of Forestry, Umpqua National Forest, Lane County, Oakridge/Hazeldell
Fire Department, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police,
Bureau of Reclamation, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.
-END-
^MARH
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